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October, 31st 2018

October 30, 2018

Chloe Steel Addresses the NSW Youth Parliament

“Youth don’t feel safe”

Last week Chloe had the opportunity to address the NSW Youth Parliament on her experiences with mental health services in Maitland. She argued that not only is more funding needed, we also need more support and training for the programs that already exist, and the staff that run these programs.

Children and young people in regional areas need to be supported to lead healthy and happy lives. Chloe and her mother, Mel, met with Maitland Newcastle MP Jenny Aitchison to discuss the need for adequate access and support for young people experience mental health challenges.

Affordable Housing

Momentum toward scrapping no-ground evictions will continue. The New South Wales Council for Social Service has vowed to continue the fight to scrap no-ground evictions after an amendment to make the reform failed in the NSW Upper House today.

“Housing affordability will be a major issue n the upcoming state election and NCOSS will be pushing hard because it’s so important,” said Ms Quilty.

Mental Health

NCOSS congratulates government on mental health investment, highlights role of schools in suicide prevention. The NSW government’s $90 million commitment to arrest the state’s alarming rate of suicide has been welcomed by the state’s peak social services body.

“Australians in regional and rural communities die by suicide at twice the rate recorded in capital cities,” said Ms Quilty. “This is driven by isolation, stigma surrounding mental health, a lack of employment opportunities and a lack of access to services.”

2019 NCOSS Election Platform Launch

On Monday 15th October we launched the 2019 Election Platform at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence with guest speakers Keenan Mundine and Simon Byrne. The event was well attended with notable guests, MP Justin Fields and Hon. Tanya Davies. This election cycle we’ve based our asks on six different domains, Access, Access to Justice, Affordable Housing, Mental Health, Lifelong Learning and Family & Connectedness.

02 9211 2599

advocacy@ncoss.org.au

Level 3, 52-56 William St, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011

Acknowledgements

NCOSS would like to thank the following organisations/individuals for generously granting permission to use their images and film in our election platform: